LANCASTER, PA — "My husband could have been killed and my children left without a father," a young New Holland woman told a Lancaster County Court judge today, "all because of a $20 movie."
The dispute — over the movie "Underworld 2" — resulted in John Francis Gray being sentenced this morning to 6 to 23 months in Lancaster County Prison.
Gray, 37, of the 300 block of East Jackson Street, New Holland, pleaded guilty in June to terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
According to newspaper accounts at the time of Gray's arrest, Jason Gehman, who lives in the same block, told police he had gone to his neighbor's home in August 2006 to retrieve several movies on DVDs that Gray had borrowed from him.
Gray returned all the movies except one, Gehman told police at the time.
The movie missing from Gehman's collection was "Underworld 2," featuring Kate Beckinsale as a vampire, according to police.
Gray apparently became upset, police said, picked up a .38-caliber revolver he had set on the television stand, cocked the gun and placed it against Gehman's forehead.
After a short discussion, Gray unloaded the gun, put it down and told Gehman he wanted to fight him instead. Gehman fled and called police.
This morning, Gehman's wife, Amber, stood in the back of the courtroom and told Judge Howard F. Knisely that her children could have been left fatherless over the movie dispute.
Defense attorney Cory Miller said his client is employed as a machine operator and has already served 51 days in jail on the charge.
First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen said "it's a silly case because of the reason behind it," but the matter became extremely serious when Gray picked up the gun.
In addition to the prison sentence, Knisely ordered Gray to serve three years consecutive probation, pay a fine of $500 and undergo psychological counseling. He granted Miller's request that Gray be made eligible for the work-release program.
Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026. 